Kung Fu Panda 2 is chock full of famous voices (Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan), which makes you wonder: Why? Why are celebrity voices an (apparent) essential of the genre? Truth is, recognizable voices are comforting, and animated movies are all about shelling the pacifying capabilities of cinema. Here are our 10 famous voices in animated classics, ranked for your clicking comfort.
10. Jerry Orbach as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast
The Law and Order vet exhumed his musical brio as Lumiere, the enchanting candelabra who made Belle's transition into bestiality queen a safe, well-lit one. Orbach's Fantasticks cred is an essential part of the ensemble that qualified Beauty and the Beast for Best Picture consideration.
9. Peggy Lee as Darling, Peg, Si and Am in Lady and the Tramp
Disney's long-gone world of hand-drawn prettiness culminated (for me) with Lady and the Tramp, the 1955 romance between two of the most sophisticated canines ever to hit the big screen. Though Barbara Luddy played the lovely Lady, jazz great Peggy Lee provided the voices for Lhasa Apso Peg, human owner "Darling," and the Siamese cats Si and Am. The Siamese cats are so cheeky and -- for Disney -- fierce that their slinky savoir-faire remains unforgettable.
8. Bob Newhart as Bernard in The Rescuers
Drollery! Disney needs more drollery! As the worrying husband mouse in Disney's The Rescuers, Newhart added low-key charm to the role of Bernard, whose wife Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) delivered a glamor and poise that served as a sweet counterpart to her husband's buttoned-down mind.
7. Eddie Murphy as Donkey in Shrek
Shrek has its detractors (and I'm one of them), but there's no denying Eddie Murphy's vigor as the punchy, braying Donkey is memorably impressive. His role as Mushu in Mulan is almost more deserving, but the towering dynasty that is the Shrek franchise cannot be denied a spot on this tally.
6. Holly Hunter as Helen Parr in The Incredibles
All members of the Parr family deserve recognition for their vocal gymnastics, but Holly Hunter is simply the perfect casting choice for Helen, the harried matriarch of the Parr clan. Her elastic powers are fitting of a suburban mother, and Hunter's hurried patois is a fine emblem of movie's familial, frantic pace.
5. Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski in Monsters, Inc.
Ultimately, Monsters, Inc. is the most underrated Pixar jam. It coasts along on cutesy monster puns for much of its duration until we're treated to that phenomenal scene with the racks of bedroom doors -- which I'd say is one of the most amazing animated sequences of the past 20 years. Crystal was (obviously) right as the friendly schmo Mike Wazowski, whose relationship with his coworkers and "Boo," a vivacious little girl, is undeniably human.
4. Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast
Just how timeless is Angela Lansbury? She scored her first Oscar nomination in 1944 (for Gaslight), delighted us in everything from The Picture of Dorian Gray to Death on the Nile, and turned in one of the most stunning supporting voiceovers ever in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Her role as Mrs. Potts is one of the last few truly old-school characters in a Disney animated feature -- an articulate, cheery, and warm presence who would've felt at home in any of Walt's '50s or '60s films.
3. Tom Hanks as Woody in Toy Story
But who needs old-school flair when you have Toy Story, the movie that redefined imagination -- yes, imagination -- in 1995? Tim Allen is dependable as the valiant Buzz Lightyear and Don Rickles is a shticky beast as Mr. Potato Head, but Tom Hanks gives the most emotionally colorful performance as Woody, the humane, neurotic, and (if we're being honest) oft-unlikable protagonist. Three movies in, nobody's poisoned this magnificent waterhole.
2. Jeremy Irons as Scar in The Lion King
While it's true that Scar is a furry retread of Aladdin's Jafar (not to mention a dead-ringer for Dave Navarro and the Real Housewives of New Jersey's Danielle Staub; just a thought!), Jeremy Irons' vocal performance is so righteously frightening and fabulous. The Reversal of Fortune Oscar-winner added violent spikes to the circle of life, adding an unforeseen level of dastardliness to a mostly chipper Disney blockbuster.
1. Robin Williams as The Genie in Aladdin
Was there any doubt? Not only does Aladdin rank as the funnest Disney movie of the past 20 years -- just think about the bobbling, hare-brained Sultan for a second -- but it features the greatest voiceover (celebrity or not) in animated cinematic history. As the enslaved genie, Robin Williams uses his signature improvisational prowess to enchant Aladdin, spar verbally with Jafar, and chum it up with Abu. Unlike other Williams movies (The Fisher King, anyone?), this performance hasn't dated a bit.